Machine Learning/AI Engineer

About The Company
Element is a leading organization dedicated to advancing innovative technological solutions that address complex challenges across various sectors. Committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, Element emphasizes integrity, collaboration, and excellence in all its endeavors. With a focus on impactful projects, the company strives to develop solutions that improve operational efficiency, enhance decision-making, and support mission-critical objectives. As a forward-thinking employer, Element values professional growth and offers opportunities for employees to contribute to meaningful initiatives that make a difference in society.
About The Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Machine Learning / AI Engineer to support a federal government program focused on designing, developing, and deploying production‑grade artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. This role involves building scalable, secure, and high‑performing AI models that support mission‑critical decision‑making and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will work across the full model lifecycle—from data preparation and feature engineering to model training, deployment, and monitoring—in a regulated government environment. The position requires a strong technical background, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will contribute to impactful projects that enhance government capabilities and serve the public interest.
Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3+ years of experience in machine learning, data science, or AI engineering roles
• Proven experience delivering production‑grade machine learning models in real‑world environments
• Expert proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (scikit‑learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Advanced SQL development experience, including complex queries, performance tuning, and data transformation logic
• Experience leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) in development
• Understanding of core concepts such as context windows, prompt design, and input/output structures, with the ability to apply AI tools effectively in building and enhancing solutions
• Experience building and deploying models using scalable serving frameworks (e.g., REST APIs, containerized deployments, or cloud‑based inference services)
• Experience working with large‑scale structured and unstructured datasets
• Strong understanding of machine learning concepts including supervised/unsupervised learning, deep learning, model evaluation, and feature engineering
• Experience working in the federal government or other highly regulated environments with security and compliance requirements
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment
• High attention to detail with a focus on model reliability and production readiness
• US Citizenship or Permanent Residency required
• Must reside in the Continental US
• Depending on the government agency, specific requirements may include a public trust background check or security clearance

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy at least three (3) production‑grade AI/ML models, including use cases such as predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, classification, forecasting, or optimization
• Design, build, and maintain end‑to‑end machine learning pipelines, including data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and deployment
• Apply deep expertise in PyTorch and/or TensorFlow to develop and fine‑tune advanced machine learning and deep learning models
• Implement and support scalable model serving architectures, ensuring high availability, low latency, and secure inference in production environments
• Collaborate with data engineers to access, transform, and prepare large‑scale datasets for model training and inference
• Partner with product owners, analysts, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into machine learning solutions
• Monitor model performance in production, including drift detection, accuracy tracking, and retraining strategies
• Ensure compliance with federal security, privacy, and governance standards in all AI/ML implementations
• Participate in Agile development cycles, including sprint planning, design reviews, and technical demonstrations
• Document model architectures, training methodologies, and deployment processes for maintainability and auditability

Benefits

• Competitive salary ranging from $135,000 to $145,000 annually
• Comprehensive health care, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions
• Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and other paid leave as required by law
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth
• Remote-first work environment with a base out of Washington, DC

Equal Opportunity
Element is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is valued and all employees are treated with respect and fairness.